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Sydney Metro Northwest's Windsor Road rail bridge has taken the top gong in the Rail category at the <a href="http://www.globalbestprojects.com/">Global Best Project Awards</a> for 2018.

The awards "focus on the challenges, risks and rewards of designing and constructing in other countries" according to the Engineering News-Record who runs the annual event.

In what is Australia's only example of a cable-stayed rail bridge built on a curve, the bridge connects the skyrail section of the first phase on the new metro line to the surface section near the line's terminus at Tullawong and maintenance and operations centre in Rouse Hill.

The project's facebook page recently published a short documentary which tells the background and focuses on the design and the build of the bridge.

<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="464" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSydneyMetro%2Fvideos%2F2128441110776853%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="100%"></iframe>

"It's an amazingly challenging project because it's not a recipe.  There isn't another bridge out there that we can open a book and read a paper which tells us how to build the bridge," said John Anderson, lead designer for the bridge.

The bridge was built by Salini Impregilo who also built the skytrain section of the metro track and the bridge deck includes 88 concrete segments each weighing between 70 and 140 tonnes.  

The bridge deck is supported by 127 steel cables that if measured from end-to-end would measure 173 kilometres.  The bridge design solution came about after a community feedback round focused on ensuring the Windsor Road &amp; Schofield Road intersection could be upgraded with ease in future.

Elsewhere on the Sydney Metro project, the factory to produce pre-fabricated components for the City &amp; Southwest tunnels that will run from Chatswood to Sydenham has ramped up production.

130 people work at the factory in Marrickville and they produce a single four-tonne segment every six minutes.  The same factory supplied components for the Northwest tunnels.

The first phase, Sydney Metro Northwest, opens in 2019 and has caused a significant property boom in outer western Sydney.  Toward the end of the line, the Apartments.com.au project database is tracking over 6000 dwellings in the development pipeline.

Upwards of 14 projects in <a href="/developments/rouse-hill-nsw-2155">Rouse Hill</a> could potentially contribute up to 3111 new dwellings.  Next door in <a href="/developments/schofields-nsw-2762">Schofields</a> 7 projects could possibly yield a further 3400 new dwellings in future.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SydneyMetro/photos/a.1404688343152137.1073741828.1398640573756914/2127243340896630/?type=3&amp;theater">Sydney Metro on Facebook</a>.
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Alastair Taylor

Sydney Metro's Windsor Road bridge takes the top gong at Global Best Project awards

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The Gold Coast might get its own ferry services to complement its light rail and bus networks if the mayor's proposal for a trial is deemed a success.

Local media reports suggest the Mayor's plan will include 12 stops and potentially take up to 3200 cars off the roads.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate will present the plan to the Gold Coast Waterways Authority before seeking support from councilors, the Gold Coast Bulletin <a href="https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/gold-coast-ferry-service-unveiled-by-mayor-tom-tate-to-run-in-broadwater-to-metricon-stadium/news-story/1e2f40566d315909595176efcfb8fe32">reports</a>. 

It is proposed that the Gold Coast City Council will provide dock infrastructure, the Department of Transport and Main Roads will organise the timetable and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority would run the tender and contract process.

Speed limits on some waterways may be challenging however it is reported they will be negotiated as part of the stakeholder consultation process.

The proposed first phase would run between Evandale and Labrador with multiple stops in between including at Cavill Avenue and the vessels would be similar to the Citycats operating on the Brisbane River. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/glink_tram_2014.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="G:Link tram on the Gold Coast - image Wikipedia."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/glink_tram_2014.jpg?itok=b7Aj7gv2" title="G:Link tram on the Gold Coast - image Wikipedia." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>G:Link tram on the Gold Coast - image <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/GCLR_Set_9_at_Cypress_Avenue_2014-09-28.jpg">Wikipedia</a>.</figcaption></figure>In 2017 the Gold Coast City Council and Queensland State Government committed a combined $10 million to deliver a detailed business case for the extension of the city's new light rail network further south.  

Stage 3a, as the next phase is known, will enter a new round of consultation toward the end of 2018 as detailed maps are released on the extension of the light rail network south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

A July 2018 update <a href="https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/G/Gold-Coast-Light-Rail-Stage-3A/TMR-GCLR3-Fact-Sheet_July2018red.pdf?la=en">brochure</a> published by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads states the anticipated journey time over the 6-7km extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads will be approximately 16-17 minutes.

Likewise, it is anticipated the tram tracks will be laid in the Gold Coast Highway's median and the highway will retain two traffic lanes in each direction.  5 new trams will need to be added to the existing fleet to maintain similar levels of service as stages 1 and 2.

Maps also show the light rail line will eventually run to Coolangatta airport and similar the Gold Coast heavy rail line will eventually be extended from Varsity Lakes to Coolangatta.  No timeframes for construction of light rail stage 3a, stage 3b (Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta) or the heavy rail line have been published.

While the Gold Coast has just under 100 projects on the Apartments.com.au project database at the time of writing, the bulk of them are located in the northern suburbs of the Coast.  There are 19 projects located between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta.
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Gold Coast mayor wants to set up a ferry network

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Parramatta's Altitude Towers, Docklands' Banksia and Brisbane South City Square among some of the winners from the Urban Taskforce Australia's Development Excellence Awards that were handed down at a dinner last week.

Altitude is a dual tower development that included 629 units across a 170m, 53 level 'West' Tower and a 128m, 39 level 'East Tower located on the banks of the Parramatta River with a street frontage to Church Street.

The development includes both serviced apartments and private apartments as well as a child care centre and several eateries and drinking establishments.  The building topped out in January 2017.

Chair of the judging panel and NSW Government Architect Peter Poulet said "Altitude in Parramatta ticks all the boxes, it is a commercial success, it has an elegant and striking deisgn, it creates excellent community amenities and it contributes a ring of confidence to the City of Parramatta."

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/banksia_syd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Banksia - image: Sydney Struwig"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/banksia_syd.jpg?itok=23n0uGQB" title="Banksia - image: Sydney Struwig" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Banksia - image: Sydney Struwig</figcaption></figure>MAB Corporation's Banksia Apartments took out the award for top High Rise City Apartments Development with the jury acknowledging the building "broke out of the usual apartment mould with its round shape and interesting facade."

Chris Johnson, UTA's CEO, went on to say "it does seem that Melbourne apartment design is more innovative than many Sydney apartments that much comply with the many rules in the NSW Apartment Design Guide."

The Urban Taskforce Australia, a non-profit lobby group that represents developers and equity financiers and primarily focused on the development scene in Sydney, <a href="http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/urbanideas/august2017/?page=1">has long drawn a distinction between design regulations in NSW and Victoria</a>, even going so far as to say if Victorian standards were applied in NSW, it would save Sydney buyers $150,000 when making an apartment purchase.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/south_city_square_perri_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="South City Square. Image: Perri Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/south_city_square_perri_1.jpg?itok=lfT9jMhD" title="South City Square. Image: Perri Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>South City Square. Image: Perri Projects</figcaption></figure>Pellicano and Perri Project's South City Square in Brisbane took out the award for top Mixed Use Development which includes hotel suites, 860 apartments and 13,000 square metres of retail space and a new public square.

Located at the intersection of Logan Road and Deshon Street in Woolloongabba, South City Square has completed stages 1 and 3 with stage 3 due to be complete by early 2019 and the site is located within a 1km walk of the fuiture Woolloongabba station to be built as part of the Cross River Rail project.

The jury for the Development Excellence Awards included Peter Poulet - NSW Government Architect, Carolyn Cummins - SMH journalist, John Wynne - Urbis, John Ferrarin - Quantity Surveyor and David Tanevski - Secretary-Treasurer UTA.

Winner's list.

Winner of Development of the Year 
Altitude, Parramatta by Meriton Group

Winner of Retail Development 
Narellan Town Centre by Greenfields Development Company &amp; D.Vitocco Constructions

Winner of Commercial Office City Development 
Commonwealth Bank, Darling Square by Lendlease

Winner of High Rise City Apartments Development 
Banksia by Mab Corporation

Winner of Medium Rise City Apartments Development 
Eighty-Eight, Kensington by Luxcon Group

Winner of Medium Rise Metro Apartments Development 
Woolooware Bay Stage One by Capital Bluestone

Winner of Mixed Uses Development 
South City Square by Pellicano &amp; Perri Projects

Winner of Urban Renewal Development 
Kensington Street &amp; Spice Alley by Greencliff &amp; Frasers Property Australia

Winner of Masterplanned Community Development 
Willowdale by Stockland Development

Winner of Seniors Living/Retirement Development 
St Basil's Randwick by St Basil's Homes

Winner of Affordable Housing Development 
Harts Landing by PAYCE &amp; Evolve Housing

Winner of Sustainable Development 
International House Sydney, Barangaroo South by Lendlease

Highly Commended Mixed Uses Development 
Esprit by Bridgehill Group
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Parramatta's Altitude Towers takes top gong at UTA's Development Excellence Awards

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Mark's <a href="/news/traditional-residential-developers-cash-in-on-yarras-300000sqm-commercial-boom">Friday article</a> on the commercial development pipeline for the City of Yarra is both impressive and worrying.  Impressive because 300,000 square metres of space, should it all be built and occupied, would represent around 20,000 new jobs contained within the municipality and worrying thanks to a lack of public transport priority, especially along the streets with tram routes.

Throw in the residential development pipeline - half of which is under construction and likely provide new homes for approximately 7000-8000 people - you have to wonder what the breaking point will be.

As Apartments.com.au user johnproctor <a href="/news/traditional-residential-developers-cash-in-on-yarras-300000sqm-commercial-boom#comment-33643">commented on Friday</a>, the 20,000 new employees/jobs figure comes from assuming that 1 employee takes up 15 square metres of total commercial space,

<blockquote>
Pretty amazing. that's roughly 20,000 workers coming to City of Yarra if it's all realised.

Will hopefully drive counter peak tram movements in the area (that are already quite strong) and should also drive high capacity on the 246 bus route linking people from the north to bigger office precinct south (Hurstbridge/Doncaster/Mernda PT users to Cremorne) and south to north (Richmond PT users to Collingwood/Abbotsford)
</blockquote>

The increased patronage and movements on the tram network are the most worrying because Victoria Street, for instance, does not have counter-peak clearways. 

At the city end there is a good quality interchange (where the emphasis is on frequency of multiple services) at Parliament station and the Macarthur Street tram stop. 

At St. Vincent's interchange and right down to Hoddle Street there is minimal priority given to trams at cross roads - especially at Hoddle Street but the worst part of the journey is beyond North Richmond Station to Victoria Gardens.

I've timed it multiple times, in both directions and at the extreme end, it's possible the journey between Victoria Gardens and Parliament station will take 20 minutes. That's a 2 kilometre trip - jogging pace.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
By the way, this is in school holidays <a href="https://t.co/nqKe5BamlQ">https://t.co/nqKe5BamlQ</a>
— Alastair Taylor (@tayser82) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/tayser82/status/1017674123982434304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

And while I deserve a slap over the wrist for being in a car at the time of taking that image above - I was the traffic - quite often I'm not and I'm one of the people travelling on one of those trams you can see attempting to crawl down Victoria Street.  In the evening peak clearways are in operation heading out of the city but the road is choked with parked cars in the counter-peak direction.

Victoria Street is only one of the major tram routes through Yarra and as Mark's article points out, the commercial development is occurring in Cremorne, Collingwood/Fitzroy - even on Hoddle Street - but what transport policies are in place to give public transport more priority in the area?

Yarra is served by the rail network from all major directions but trams and buses fighting for space on the road network are how most people get around the municipality.

Cremorne has a distinct advantage because much of the area is within a comfortable 10-minute walk of Richmond Station or East Richmond Station - and if they opened a northern entry to South Yarra station and improved pedestrian links across the river alongside the railway lines  - South Yarra would help in serving the tech &amp; marketing favoured area's employment growth.

Collingwood is serviced by the inner stations along the Hurstbridge/South Morang-Mernda railway lines but has Hoddle Street - a very pedestrian-unfriendly barrier - between the bulk of the suburb and the stations.  Like Fitzroy, Collingwood's public transport depends heavily on the radial tram routes and the cross-town smart bus routes on Johnson Street.

Tram services on Victoria Street, Brunswick Street, Smith Street, Bridge Road, Swan Street all, to varying degrees, have the misfortunate of being located within a narrow road corridor where the 'fight' over space, depicted in the tweeted image, is daily practice.

How many new office and residential buildings does it take before we see action on public transport priority on the City of Yarra's streets?

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">City of Yarra Residential Development Pipeline Status</th>
			<th scope="col">Dwellings</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Planning Assessment</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">2030</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Approved</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">2664</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Registration &amp; Sales</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">887</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Under Construction</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">5359</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOTAL</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">10,940</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Lead image credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Critical_Mass_Melbourne_-_Brunswick_St.JPG">wikipedia</a>
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Is it time to rethink on-street parking on tram routes in the City of Yarra?

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Laurence doubles down on his opinion on Federation Square which seems to have ruffled a few feathers. 

Arden's finalised vision has been released and Daniel Andrews' Spring Street government has finally committed to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.

The public will get to see the Southbank by Beulah designs this week and Open House Melbourne is on this weekend.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast through your app of choice!

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/476843037&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=true&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Weekly Podcast: Episode 25 - Federation Square, Melbourne Airport Rail Link, Southbank by Beulah, Open House Melbourne and Arden

In stark contrast to our growing database of <a href="/news/top-20-sydney-suburbs-with-the-largest-development-pipeline">Sydney projects</a>, Melbourne's been in <a href="/">Apartments.com.au's</a> DNA for over five years.&nbsp; And what a difference it is with postcode 3000 (actually, the suburb name Melbourne, but you know what I mean) leading the pack among the top 20 suburbs across metropolitan Melbourne with the largest development pipeline.

Not to be outdone, <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, home to some of the largest skyscrapers (and proposals) in the city comes in second with a 5 figure number in its development pipeline and spilling over from Southbank, <a href="/new-apartments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a> takes the third top spot.

<a href="/new-apartments/box-hill-vic-3128">Box Hill</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/doncaster-vic-3108">Doncaster</a> are two suburbs in the top 10 which stand apart from the trend of much of inner Melbourne ruling the roost and <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Moonee Ponds</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/coburg-vic-3058">Coburg</a> in that inner-city to middle-ring transition area are present within the top 20.

In fact, beyond the top 20, there are many middle-ring Melbourne suburbs with over 1000 dwellings in the development pipeline including <a href="/new-apartments/carnegie-vic-3163">Carnegie</a> (1602), <a href="/new-apartments/essendon-vic-3040">Essendon</a> (1527), <a href="/new-apartments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">North Melbourne</a> (1407) and <a href="/new-apartments/maribyrnong-vic-3032">Maribyrnong</a> (1279).

For a while I've been saying both privately and publicly, <a href="/new-apartments/footscray-vic-3011">Footscray</a> is on the same level as <a href="/new-apartments/south-yarra-vic-3141">South Yarra</a> - similar distances from the centre of Melbourne and with the rail transport to match - and lo and behold Footscray is well ahead of South Yarra's pipeline numbers at this time.

<a href="/new-apartments/collingwood-vic-3066">Collingwood</a> (2668) outstrips <a href="/new-apartments/fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy</a> (1169, ranked #35) by a long margin and <a href="/new-apartments/preston-vic-3072">Preston</a> (3369) is way out ahead of all the other suburbs on the High Street / South Morang corridor.

The monster numbers at the top can be explained that the suburb 'Melbourne' applies to St Kilda Road as well as the CBD, however when we look exclusively at postcode 3000, there are still over 18,000 dwellings in the pipeline.

The number of dwellings below are&nbsp;for all projects on the Apartments.com.au project database across all four main statuses - Planning Assessment, Approved, Registration &amp; Sales and Under Construction.

Click on a suburb name to view a summary of the development pipeline for each region.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
	<thead>
		<tr>
			<th scope="col">Rank</th>
			<th scope="col">Suburb</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of Dwellings</th>
		</tr>
	</thead>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>20,035</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a></td>
			<td>16,015</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>6573</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/footscray-vic-3011">Footscray</a></td>
			<td>6526</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a></td>
			<td>6276</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/box-hill-vic-3128">Box Hill</a></td>
			<td>5645</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>7</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/west-melbourne-vic-3003">West Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>4980</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/richmond-vic-3121">Richmond</a></td>
			<td>4402</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>9</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/south-yarra-vic-3141">South Yarra</a></td>
			<td>4124</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/doncaster-vic-3108">Doncaster</a></td>
			<td>3808</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>11</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/preston-vic-3072">Preston</a></td>
			<td>3369</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a></td>
			<td>3044</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>13</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/brunswick-east-vic-3057">Brunswick East</a></td>
			<td>2828</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>14</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">North Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>2793</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Moonee Ponds</a></td>
			<td>2749</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/collingwood-vic-3066">Collingwood</a></td>
			<td>2668</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>17</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/st-kilda-vic-3182">St Kilda</a></td>
			<td>2618</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>18</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/port-melbourne-vic-3207">Port Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>2493</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>19</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/coburg-vic-3058">Coburg</a></td>
			<td>1792</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/hawthorn-east-vic-3123">Hawthorn East</a></td>
			<td>1757</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Top 20 Melbourne suburbs with the largest development pipeline

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Six months into expanding the Apartments.com.au Project Database to take on a national focus, <a href="/news/melbourne-and-sydney-urban-national-project-database-observations">from time to time</a> we've been taking a step back and assessing the numbers.

Our Sydney data is not as mature as our Melbourne data but there have been many updates and changes since we last looked at some of the trends happening in the Emerald City.

Only one of the top 10 suburbs listed below is located within inner-city Sydney, all other suburbs in our ranked list of suburbs with the most dwellings in the development pipeline are further out - much further out in some cases.

While other <a href="/new-apartments/sydney-nsw">inner Sydney suburbs</a> are present on the Apartments.com.au database - such as Mascot at #13, Zetland at #18, and postcode 2000 itself ranked outside the top 20 at #21 - the vast bulk of <a href="https://www.spacer.com.au/blog/what-are-the-types-of-apartmentshouses-you-can-find-in-inner-sydney" target="_blank">Sydney's pipeline</a> of new apartments are in middle and outer reaches of the metropolitan area.

The correlation between new large-scale public transport investment and medium and higher density development pipeline is particularly strong among the top suburbs.  <a href="/new-apartments/parramatta-nsw">Parramatta</a>, the top Sydney suburb at this stage, for instance, will be the beneficiary of a new light rail line which already has a second stage planning underway.

It will likely also receive a station on the mooted Western Sydney Metro. Schofields and Rouse Hill are outer metropolitan areas that will see the first phase of the Sydney Metro Northwest open next year and Macquarie Park, while it has had a rail service for over 10 years, it will also see service improvements when the existing Epping-Chatswood line is converted for Sydney Metro's use.

The second phase of the Sydney Metro - the City and Southwest project - apart from building a new North Sydney, Harbour and CBD tunnel, will re-use the existing Bankstown line via Sydenham - all stations between those two points are presented on the Apartments.com.au database but Bankstown is the only one to make the top 20 list at this stage.

Major rail stations or rail junctions feature in the top 20 quite prominently - apart from the #1 rank Parramatta, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Epping and Penrith are flying that flag and Wentworth Point, a former industrial peninsula adjacent to Sydney Olympic Park ranks at #4.  Wentworth Point is likely to benefit from improved connectivity and stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail project.

The number of dwellings below are for all projects on the Apartments.com.au project database across all four main statuses - Planning Assessment, Approved, Registration &amp; Sales and Under Construction.

Click on a suburb name to view a summary of the development pipeline for each region.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Rank</th>
			<th scope="col">Suburb</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of Dwellings</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/parramatta-nsw">Parramatta</a></td>
			<td>4838</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/schofields-nsw-2762">Schofields</a></td>
			<td>3490</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/merrylands-nsw-2160">Merrylands</a></td>
			<td>3290</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/wentworth-point-nsw-2127">Wentworth Point</a></td>
			<td>3192</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/rouse-hill-nsw-2155">Rouse Hill</a></td>
			<td>3111</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a></td>
			<td>3044</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/liverpool-nsw-2170">Liverpool</a></td>
			<td>2922</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/epping-nsw-2121">Epping</a></td>
			<td>2770</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/lidcombe-nsw-2141">Lidcombe</a></td>
			<td>2634</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/erskineville-nsw-2043">Erskineville</a></td>
			<td>2301</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/box-hill-nsw-2765">Box Hill</a></td>
			<td>2215</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/leppington-nsw-2179">Leppington</a></td>
			<td>2157</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/mascot-nsw-2020">Mascot</a></td>
			<td>1975</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/auburn-nsw-2144">Auburn</a></td>
			<td>1972</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/bankstown-nsw-2200">Bankstown</a></td>
			<td>1947</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/baulkham-hills-nsw-2153">Baulkham Hills</a></td>
			<td>1913</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/st-leonards-nsw-2065">St Leonards</a></td>
			<td>1894</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/zetland-nsw-2017">Zetland</a></td>
			<td>1847</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/kellyville-nsw-2155">Kellyville</a></td>
			<td>1842</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
			<td><a href="/developments/penrith-nsw-2750">Penrith</a></td>
			<td>1772</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body></html>

Top 20 Sydney suburbs with the largest development pipeline

<html><body>
Road user pricing is a topic that the local and federal levels of government are happy to talk about, but not so much at the state level.

The City of Melbourne over June and July has progressively released discussion papers on all things transport related including car parking, walking, cycling and public transport and is seeking community input to inform its transport strategy refresh. 

Last week it released its final discussion paper and it's only that topic which state governments are not willing to engage with: road user pricing.

The basic concept of road user pricing reform will potentially involve doing away with annual one-size-fits-all registration charges, fuel excise and instead roll out a system which levies a fee on a vehicle owner based on the distance driven and the time of day trips are taken.

The rationale behind the shift to a distance and time-based model of road user pricing includes decreasing amounts of fuel excise (because cars are getting more fuel efficient and electric vehicles don't use petroleum at all) and managing the road network more broadly, whether it is in a specific suburb or metro-wide.

Infrastructure Victoria put road user pricing in its top 3 infrastructure priorities when it released its first 30-year strategy and almost immediately the state government <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/andrews-government-rejects-adding-new-tolls-to-existing-roads-20161004-gru8dj">ruled it out</a>. 

<blockquote>
As Melbourne's population grows towards 8 million people in 2050 our road network will be subject to intense pressure, we can't build our way out of congestion with new roads that will simply fill up with more cars. We need to come up with innovative solutions to ensure access to our road network is equitable.

There are a few different options for introducing road pricing, it can be a sum charged per kilometre or per trip, or a charge within a particular zone and these can be altered based on peak traffic periods. 

Trials have shown that charging in this way, instead of a lump sum for vehicle registration once or twice a year, encourages people to avoid driving at certain times where possible or switching to another mode of transport instead.
<cite>Cr Frances Gilley, City of Melbourne</cite>
</blockquote>

The City of Melbourne <a href="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.com-participate.files/3515/3241/1563/Transport_Strategy_refresh_-_Reducing_traffic_for_better_streets_Discussion_paper.PDF">discussion paper</a> on road user pricing cites the benefits of shifting to a different taxation model using examples in the US, UK, Singapore, Sweden and Italy.

In the US state of Oregon, an opt-in trial of shifting to paying-per-mile driven has shown a 22% reduction in peak period driving and 91% of trial participants said they'd prefer to be charged based on mileage rather than fuel tax.

In Milan, drivers must pay to enter a designated zone and it has seen a 15% reduction in emissions over 4 years, 16% reduction in traffic volumes, 21% reduction in road collisions and 12% less public transport delays.

London has a central area congestion charge and it has seen 14% less trips within the charging zone and it has had 10 years of stable traffic congestion despite population growing by 1.3 million people.

The council in its discussion paper says that "many respected organisations have concluded that road pricing is needed and would deliver many benefits.  THey include the Productivity Commission, Infrastructure Victoria, Infrastructure Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, RACV and the Harper Competition and Henry Tax reviews."

The paper also says all three levels of government must be onboard for the shift to be effective and that any new road user charging regime should not be an added tax, it needs to be a holistic change.

To have your say, see <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy/transport-pricing">participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au</a>

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOw3itDJcWw">youtube</a>.
</body></html>

City of Melbourne's final transport strategy discussion paper seeks input on road user pricing

<html><body>
Sydney Metro's first stage from Tullawong to Chatswood is set to purchase all its electricity needs from a new solar farm at Beryl in the Orana region of central northern New South Wales.

It was revealed through <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/beryl-solar-farm-power-nsw-trains-may-add-battery-storage-25337/">RenewEconomy</a> and the <a href="https://www.afr.com/business/energy/solar-energy/new-energy-solar-buys-beryl-project-in-nsw-20180723-h131c4">Fin Review</a> that Transport for NSW is on the other end of the power purchase agreement (PPA) that is underpinning the new solar farm's construction.

Transport for New South Wales is contracted to buy approximately 69% of the solar farm's output - 134,000 megawatt hours per annum - which in turn the NSW Government announced two weeks ago, to little fanfare, that that energy output will be used by the <a href="https://www.sydneymetro.info/article/beryl-gets-go-ahead-help-power-sydney-metro-northwest">Sydney Metro Northwest</a>.

The Beryl Solar farm's nameplate capacity sits at 87 megawatts AC and is located on a 332 hectare site approximately 5 km west of Gulgong.  The new owner of the project may also added an undisclosed amount of storage adjacent to the solar farm.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m11!1m3!1d69708.05616623066!2d149.45876360701553!3d-32.329430582782436!2m2!1f0!2f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x6b0e955df1420589%3A0x40609b490435be0!2sBeryl+NSW+2852!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sau!4v1532484794621" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>

The lack of fanfare stands in stark contrast to how the Victorian Government announced its signing of a contract to source energy from renewable sources for Melbourne's tram network.

Back in January 2017 "Solar Powered Trams" was the phrase-du-jour when it was announced the state government had signed power purchase agreements with the owners of the <a href="http://www.bannertonsolarfarm.com.au/">Bannerton</a> and <a href="https://numurkahsolarfarm.com.au/">Numurkah</a> solar farms.

According to the projects' respective websites, Bannerton is expected to be connected to connected to the grid this month and Numurkah is still at a pre-construction phase.

Over the horizon, the Victorian Government is yet to announce the successful bidders in the Victoria Renewable Energy Auction Scheme which is seeking up to 650MW of new renewable energy generation.

The scheme is designed to aid in creating new generation so the state government can hit its legislated renewable energy targets: 25% of the state's electricity to be sourced from renewables by 2020 and 40% by 2025.

State Governments are some of the biggest customers in the electricity markets (think: schools, hospitals, electrified rail networks, government offices) and various states and territories around the country are using that market power to drive new investment despite the ideological roadblocks at the federal level.

<a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-could-be-at-86-wind-and-solar-by-2050-on-economics-only-34915/">Solar and Wind</a> are now some of the cheapest ways to generate electricity, and as fossil fuel generators - namely the coal plants on the east coast - reach the end of technical life, the state governments and big corporates and local councils are moving well ahead of the stagnation in Canberra.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SydneyMetro/photos/a.1404688343152137.1073741828.1398640573756914/2072802543007377/?type=3&amp;theater">Sydney Metro on </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SydneyMetro/photos/a.1404688343152137.1073741828.1398640573756914/2072802543007377/?type=3&amp;theater">facebook</a>.
</body></html>

Sydney Metro northwest to be powered by new solar farm in Beryl

<html><body>
The Rail Futures Institute has called on the State and Commonwealth Governments to keep one eye on the long-term and get the route and operations of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link 'right' in the first instance.

A statement from the rail lobby group says "we have long advocated that the Airport route should be from Southern Cross Station via a single stop at Sunshine where a major rail interchange would provide easy connections with the Melbourne Metro corridor and the regional lines that pass through Sunshine."

"We therefore strongly endorse the Premier’s announcement that the preferred route will include a new Sunshine Super-Hub and pave the way for fast trains to Geelong and Ballarat"

As the Premier mentioned on Sunday, rail tunnels will be used for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and RFI re-iterated government needs to get it right.

"The major infrastructure needed to provide the Airport Rail Link is likely to include long tunnels and be designed for a useful life of 100 years or more. It is therefore of critical importance that the detail of the new corridor design and operation is right in the first instance."

The Rail Futures Institute advocates for what it has dubbed the AirTrain concept - a dedicated set of tracks linking Southern Cross, Sunshine, Melbourne Airport and in a later, second, phase, linking the airport with the Bendigo and Seymour-Shepparton regional lines.

There would be a dedicated shuttle service operating between Southern Cross, Sunshine and Melbourne Airport and all Bendigo/Echuca/Swan Hill and Seymour/Shepparton V/Line services would run along the route.

Shifting the regional services out of the existing Sunbury and Craigieburn corridors in turn frees up space to allow metro to run even more services on those lines in the long run.

RFI refines its concepts from time to time with the latest depicting three separate tunnels between the City and Melbourne Airport and they have designed track geometry to allow trains to operate at much higher speeds (hence the 15-20 minute journey time).

<blockquote>
Travel time to the Airport will be a critical factor in its success. It must be faster than any private car, taxi or bus alternative. Rail Futures is confident that a suitably designed and operated rail corridor can readily achieve travel times in the range of 15 to 20 minutes, inclusive of the Sunshine stop.
<cite>Dr Bill Russell, Rail Futures Institute Secretary</cite>
</blockquote>

After the weekend's announcement on route selection, the Victorian Government added the Melbourne Airport Rail Link to its re-election pitch.  

Routes via Craigieburn, Maribyrnong and Flemington have now been ruled out and the business case for the project will now focus on the route via Sunshine and the government said the business case will be completed in 2019.

As part of the Victorian Government's Regional Rail Revival program, the Ballarat line has come into focus with duplication of track from Deer Park to Melton.  On more than one occasion, the language surrounding the Melton duplication has pointed toward eventual electrification and operations shifting to Metro.

The 'Sunshine super-hub' concept for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link also applies to Melton electrification.  Sunshine station was upgraded as recently as 2014 as part of the Regional Rail Link.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/rfi_airtrain_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The Rail Futures Institute's AirTrain concept"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="376" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/rfi_airtrain_1.png?itok=3ct0ie3c" title="The Rail Futures Institute's AirTrain concept" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Rail Futures Institute's <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/180530-Airport-Brochure_v7.pdf">AirTrain concept</a></figcaption></figure>
</body></html>

Rail Futures Institute reiterates calls for long-term thinking on Melbourne Airport Rail Link

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

Joel Robinson

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Capella to launch Brisbane's first branded residences at Shafston House, Kangaroo Point

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

Alastair Taylor

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